A plane bound for Tenerife was grounded, causing "absolute chaos", according to passengers.

Families described how they were "herded like cattle" and left to feel like refugees as they waited stranded at Durham Tees Valley Airport for eight hours on Tuesday.

Their luggage was then dumped in the car park before finally being taken to a hotel for the night. An airport investigation has now been launched to find out how the bags ended up in a pile outside the terminal.

Passenger Catherine Dominguez, 52, who had been visiting her mum in Coulby Newham, said: "Given the level of security in airports at the moment this seemed incredible. It was absolute chaos."

Mrs Dominguez, a teacher in Tenerife, added: "The way we were treated was appalling."

Holidaymakers boarded the Thomson Fly flight at 3pm, only to be taken off it at 3.50pm, when they were told there was a technical fault and engineers were needed.

After a couple of hours, passengers were offered £3 vouchers for refreshments but when some families arrived, there was nothing left. It was 11pm before passengers were told the flight was cancelled.

They were then told they would be taken to a hotel in Yarm for the night.

Teresa Wharf, 61, from Billingham, who was travelling with her daughter, Paula Collins, 36, and grandaughter Savannah Collins, nine, said: "We were herded like cattle.

"When the flight was finally cancelled, they just shouted at us to get out the building. It was shocking.

"Then we had to find our own luggage, which had just been shot out in the car park. The children were crying, because they were frightened. We were like refugees."

A spokeswoman for Thomson apologised for the delay.

She said: "This was due to a small technical problem on the aircraft. Necessary maintenance work and thorough checks were then carried out by engineers as safety of our passengers and crew is our top priority."

A spokesman for Durham Tees Valley Airport said: "A full investigation is under way to find out what happened. Leaving luggage in the car park like that is something the airport never does. There seems to have been a lack of communication."